Kin-ball: Coming Soon to an RPAC Near You

By Megan Weyrauch on March 31, 2013

From battleship and broomball to inner-tube water polo and wallyball, Ohio State is not short on creative intramural sports. All students are welcome and encouraged to participate in these entertaining activities.  To add to the OSU intramural repertoire, a sport known as kin-ball will be coming next week to the RPAC.

Basic information

  • While kin-ball may be new to Ohio State, it has been around since 1986 when it was invented by physical education teacher Mario Demers.
  • Also known as “Omnikin,” kin-ball is played with a huge ball and three teams of four members each, rather than the traditional two teams of other sports.
  • According to the website kin-ball.com, the three team colors are:
    • Pink, which represents “gender equality and fair representation of women, unification and victory over prejudice”
    • Black, which represents the sport’s “increasing speed and caliber, race equality, as well as making refereeing easier and more precise”
    • Grey, which represents “the galaxy, the future, the approaching Olympic games, unification, and communication.”

The game

Kin-ball starts with one of the teams serving the ball. Three team members hold the ball, while the fourth member first yells “Omnikin,” followed by the color of one of the other teams, and then serves the ball by hitting it with both hands. The team called out must catch the ball and prevent it from touching the ground.

If the catch is successful, this team now serves the ball within 30 seconds to continue the game. If the ball is dropped, the other two teams are awarded a point, and the team that was supposed to catch the ball begins the round by serving the ball in the manner stated above.

While games can range from 7 to 15 minutes, all games played through OSU will last 12 minutes each and consist of three periods.

Video

I think kin-ball is much more interesting to watch than to read about. Check out this video to see some clips of how kin-ball is played:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlzeqwjSPEc&list=PL38C53A2A65A72B7F

Interested?

You can be a part of the first kin-ball game at OSU on Tuesday, April 9 at 7:15 and 8:15pm in the RPAC Tom W. Davis Gym. The second event will occur on Wednesday, April 17.

Check out this page to register for the inaugural kin-ball match:

http://recsports.osu.edu/articles/try-a-new-sport-kin-ball

Or not interested?

Kin-ball not your style? Take some time to explore the other intramural sports offered at OSU; there are plenty to choose from and there’s something for everyone. My personal favorite is battleship – what a great bonding experience among friends it is to be in the same boat (literally). Nothing says friendship like keeping your canoe from sinking. I am committed to participate in battleship before I graduate, and I hope you too will find something that piques your interest.

 

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